Volunteer

Meet Frank Landaverde (EE ’93), a dedicated alumnus who generously volunteers his time and expertise to support Illinois Tech. Landaverde is involved in the Alumni Association in various capacities including serving as a member of the Board of Directors, chair of the Career and Professional Development Committee, and member of the Admissions Committee. He especially cherishes his experiences volunteering with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, where he participates in college fairs and visits high schools to encourage prospective students to attend Illinois Tech. Below, Landaverde tells us about his experience as an admissions volunteer at these events:

How do you stay connected to Illinois Tech as an alumnus?

"I'm on the Admissions Committee and we attend a lot of the high school and college fair visits, which I think are fantastic. My favorite thing to do as a volunteer is going to see these young kids' diverse faces and telling them that there really is this opportunity to have a successful career in STEM.

Why do you believe in the importance of volunteering with admissions?

“I think what happens when these students are walking to our table, and it says Illinois Tech, they have some knowledge that they want to explore something in STEM, although they're not sure what field yet. Seeing someone Latino that looks them, that successfully navigated through Illinois Tech’s tough STEM curriculum gives these students a lot of hope that it is possible to get through college and get it done.”  

What do you enjoy most about connecting with future Illinois Tech students as an admissions volunteer at college fairs?

"Speaking to the kids that are interested in technology but have no idea about what to do or what it's all about—that's probably my favorite thing. My second favorite thing is talking to the parents. It is a real eye opener because they can be so intimidated by the whole concept of college and their kids are usually the first generation to pursue higher education. So, I think with me also being a first-generation college graduate in my family, it also gives the people that I'm talking to a lot of hope. If I could do it, then other people can as well, right? I like being that ray of light that can say, ‘Yes, it is possible. If he can do it, so can we.” And I say, ‘Yes, let's go do it.’"

What has been your favorite alumni-to-prospective-student interaction at a college fair?

“There was this Latina student, she was maybe a junior in high school—young yet very inquisitive. Then, I met her parents who did not speak a word of English. They asked me so many different questions in Spanish: 'What is college like?', 'What is life like in college?', 'If you commute, what is that going to be like?’, and ‘What if you don't commute?'. This interaction stood out, because they told me, 'Our daughter is so intelligent. So intelligent that it forces us to have to go and attend these events because we want her to have something better than what we have.’ So that experience that I had with them sums everything up right there.” 

What would you say to fellow alumni that are considering becoming an alumni volunteer?

"Passion is contagious. If you have a passion for a particular topic, and you go and talk to these prospective students, your passion will come through and they will grab onto it. As an alumnus, that passion can really help another human being."

Landaverde’s dedication is proof that alumni engagement can make a meaningful difference for both prospective students and the future of Illinois Tech!

Meet Allison Toonen-Talamo (ARCH ’13), a dedicated alumna who generously gives back to Illinois Tech through her service as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Admissions Committee, and as an admissions volunteer. Toonen-Talamo is passionate about playing an active role in welcoming the next generation of Scarlet Hawks. As an admissions volunteer, she attends on-campus admission events and sends postcards to congratulate future Scarlet Hawks on their acceptance to the university. Below, Toonen-Talamo tells us about her experience as an admissions volunteer:

How do you stay connected to Illinois Tech as an alumna?

“I like to stay connected through the aspects of what I've learned from Illinois Tech: the academics and the handful of mentors that have helped me in the industry today. With this relationship, it's kind of my way of paying it forward. I like to help incoming students—especially students active on campus—to find their way and motivate them by saying that your crazy idea is not a crazy one, you should actually try and go for it."  

Why do you believe in the importance of volunteering with the Office of Undergraduate Admission?

“I feel like the admissions part is your welcome mat or the gates to the university. So, I always want to make sure that the admissions side has a lot of good back-up and support, whether it's an active faculty member or an alum, to help students through any hurdles they will potentially go through over the years. And then to be able to make the students feel welcome to the point that within a year they'll still be on campus.”

For in-person volunteer opportunities, what do you enjoy most about connecting with future Illinois Tech students as an Admissions Volunteer?

“I enjoyed being able to sit down with prospective students that were interested in similar paths as I was for engineering and architecture, and seeing their motivation and being able to say, ‘Hey, guys, I’ve been out of college for 10 years, but this is what I've learned, this is how these  degrees can benefit you, and this is an avenue you should take.’ So, it's educating them because you're going to be able to do so much more while on campus than you think you can. It was a motivation for me to see that there are students who are still hungry to learn and have so many questions, but they might just need a little guidance and confidence in certain areas.”

What would you say to a fellow alum that's considering becoming an Alumni Volunteer?

“Do it! Join us! The more alumni we have helping as volunteers, the more beneficial for incoming and current students. Students need these types of mentors. And hopefully we can get a wider variety of career paths or industry types because it does show the importance of academics and what the potential is at the end of the day. And that's very vital for any student.” 

Toonen-Talamo’s passion and dedication demonstrates that alumni involvement in admissions programs can create a lasting impact on future students and the future of Illinois Tech!